30s Liposuction W/ Minor Fat Transfer

I had liposuction done of the abdomen (upper/lower), flanks, and back with a minor fat transfer to the buttocks (mostly on the sides to improve overall figure).
Day of Operation: I was extremely nervous and got sick as soon as the IV was put in, but I managed to calm myself. The operation requires that you are completely nude but the nurse and dr.'s made me feel comfortable. I was put under and woke up extremely out of it. I could not keep my eyes open and the soreness i felt all over my body at first, was daunting. It was so sore it hurt. I was also really thirsty from not being able to consume any food or water for several hours. The car ride hurt. Every bump and turn revealed a new part that was sore. Did I mention I was completely disoriented?

Once I got home, sitting or resting was unbearable. Although, standing reminded me how exhausted and sore I was, it was better than sitting. I ate a bit and drank a lot of fluids! NOTE: wiping after urinating is tricky! Find a system that works and stick to it. By the time I was medicated and walked around almost every 20-30 minutes, I did sleep, elevated (almost sitting down). I was not sure how I should sleep but my doctor said propped up and elevated so my boyfriend and I did our best. I slept okay but better than the days to come. Oh and I was extremely leaky all day, just watered down blood that stained everything but we prepared with old towels and blankets.
Day 2: I woke up sore. I keep using that word because it does seem appropriate but it does not mean, NO PAIN. Often times, I felt like several needle prick sensations and pain when I tried to use my ab muscles, or strain that bordered pain when I coughed. One thing I learned on day 2 was that walking got harder for several reasons. One, there was more piercing pain and the garment is so tight in certain areas that it chaffed and hurt. One particular area is the crotch. I was warned the area would swell but it pinched and chaffed because the garment (Marena Recovery brand) the opening is wide enough but when you walk and close your legs, the opening borders are quite rough. I eventually told my boyfriend and we came up with putting a soft fabric there to make walking less painful.

The swelling in my abdomen was increased. I felt more prickly sensations in my upper and lower back and buttocks. I started to leak a lot less toward the end of the day. The garment became a bit tight and uncomfortable. I started to ice certain areas, and it hurts first but if you slowly ice, it is worth the relief.

Day 3: I got to shower! Sleeping from day 2 to day 3 was rough, not as comfortable as day one, believe it or not. I had to get up every hour during the night to get rid of the prickly pain on my back and buttocks. So sleeping sucked. I ate a small breakfast and my boyfriend helped me shower. He had to get in with me and help wash my body (super gently). He had to dry my incision tapes with a hair dryer. It was a process but it was worth getting clean from all the fluids and dried blood.

I walked a little less than the first two days because I felt more discomfort and I cried a bit less. The needle prickly sensation does hurt. NO it does not feel like the worst workout, it hurts more. But yes, some parts feel so sore, that it borderline hurts. Other parts plain just hurt. I still walked about every hour either for extended periods or several times within an hour, at short intervals. For the evening, we tried laying me on my side but I found this so uncomfortable and painful. I feel sooo many needle pricks on my back and buttocks. Also, we read that I would have to rotate every hour and that would not work for my boyfriend. He is a heavy sleeper.

Day 4: I slept sitting up again, and I was able to manuever around a bit to get myself sat up and get up on my own, if i really needed to. However, I slept so terribly in the morning and woke up and asked my boyfriend to lay me on my side again. I needed sleep! It hurts the first few minutes but the tiredness took over and I slept. He rotated me after the hour, and I slept another bit.

I am walking around and still feel the needle pricks around my body. I am trying to walk more than yesterday and I am icing a lot more. I am really tired. I am trying to not use my pain meds and have not used them much up until now. I heard several stories on real self that many people returned to work, and I could not imagine it, but I have to return soon. I am trying to heal and get moving faster and learning how to deal with the needle prick pain i feel. The swelling is the same and I have no leakiness since day 3. The garment hurts a lot around the bra area. it is like having a bra that has a band that cuts into your skin, especially when you sit or sleep. I am learning to deal with that.

I am still waiting for my post op appointment currently.